The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C27-J Spartan aircraft will be a familiar sight in airports in Fiji and Papua New Guinea this year.
This is the result of DPAP – the Defence Pacific Air Program – that the Australian Government offers the two Pacific Island countries.
For Fiji, DPAP fits in well under its Vuvale (Family) Partnership with Australia. It will also see the RAAF plane operating in Fiji for a two-week period at eight weeks interval.
Six deployment is planned for 2024.
The C27 arrived in Fiji on February 18 and was received by the Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration, Hon. Pio Tikoduadua.
The Minister highlighted that Fiji and Australia are working together to boost Pacific resilience to traditional and non-traditional security threats.
He added the arrival of the RAAF aircraft adds a new dimension of the Vuvale Partnership of the two countries.
“Australia’s deployment of a Royal Australian Airforce C-27 provides a valuable building block to tackle these threats, and to build a safer nation and Pacific region,” the Minister said.
Australian Defence Adviser Colonel Henry Stimson said DPAP will help deepens the partnership with Fiji through training, enhanced inter-operability and the conduct of mutually beneficial tasks.
“The offer of the C-27J to the Ministry for Home Affairs and Immigration on a regular rotational basis is an important opportunity for Fiji to consider how they might develop a sovereign aviation capability,” said Col. Stimson.
During RAAF first surveillance flights in Fiji, the aircraft was involved in a demo-operation of a search and rescue alongside the Republic of Fiji Navy Ship (RFNS) “Savenaca” near Vetaua Island off Taveuni, and delivered a humanitarian mission of medical supplies to Rotuma.
Suva’s Colonial War Memorial Hospital Senior Surgical Registrar, Dr Semiti Vakabua who flew on the mission to Rotuma said the trip enabled doctors to examine the surgical capabilities of the new Rotuma Hospital.
“One of the main reasons I was sent for this mission is to see the setup of the hospital and the operating theatre.”
“Once we come back from this mission, we will be able to draw up a plan for the people of Rotuma as we plan to do more community engagements,” said Dr Vakabua.
He also thanked the RAAF for the opportunity to participate in the humanitarian mission.
While in Fiji, the RAAF C27 plane operated out of Nausori International Airport, conducting joint operations with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) in static aircraft displays, familiarisation flights with the Fiji government and community engagement events.
The next rotation of the C27 plane will be in mid-April.